Treat Youself to the Best Ice Cream Ever

February may not seem like the time for ice cream – sure it does. Any time of year is perfect for delicious ice cream, especially when it comes from on of the premier dairies in the Nation.
Babcock Hall Dairy is located on the University of Wisconsin Madison campus. Built in the late 1950s, the dairy provides undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to learn first-hand how raw milk is turned into fantastic tasting ice cream and cheese.
Workers at the Babcock Hall Dairy Store are represented by AFSCME Local 171. The local includes blue collar and technical employees across the University of Wisconsin Madison campus. They not only run the dairy plant but also clean and maintain campus buildings, provide food service to dorms and dining halls, assist in laboratories across campus, and work at its farms and greenhouses. Members of Local 171 belong to the Wisconsin State Employees Union (AFSCME Council 24). Try your dairy knowledge:
What is the average fat content of raw milk from the farm?
A. 3.75%
B. 5%
C. 4%
D. 19%
Answer: A. 3.7%
Working without a contract, Babcock Hall Dairy workers continue to make some of the richest and more flavorful ice cream on the planet. Babcock Hall Dairy ice cream is available at the dairy store in Babcock hall, as well as the Memorial Union and Union South.
AFSCME workers at Babcock Hall Dairy also make wonderful Wisconsin cheese. Varieties available include: Brick, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Havarti, Holland Style Gouda, Colby and Baby Swill. Babcock Hall Dairy cheese is available online or at the Babcock Hall Dairy Store.
Babcock Hall Dairy Store is located on the UW campus in Babcock Hall at 1605 Linden Drive, Madison, WI. To get there, take University Avenue to Babcock Drive, just before the University Avenue and Campus Drive split. Turn left at Linden Drive and the dairy store is located at the far end of Babcock hall. Hours are: Monday–Friday 7:30 – 5:30, Saturday 11:00 – 4:00 , Football Saturday 10 – 5:30.

Spontaneous Strike Leads to Worker Center-Union Partnership and Victory

Reprinted from ARISE CHICAGO

Workers from Artistic Stitches Inc. approached Arise Chicago in November after having concerns about job security, holiday pay and possible violations of Illinois minimum wage law. Experienced workers were regularly laid off near the end of each year, and then rehired as "apprentices," at apprenticeship wages–despite the fact that many had worked at the factory for years. After not receiving promised holiday pay for working on Thanksgiving, workers walked off the job and contacted Arise. Arise provided training on workplace rights and assisted in organizing additional co-workers. “There were so many problems ... we started talking about collective action and collective bargaining. The workers were excited and decided they wanted to form a union” said Arise organizer, Jorge Mújica (pictured above, on left along with Richard Monje from Workers United). Selecting Workers United as their union with which to affiliate, the workers petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for an election. Last week, the workers won by a decisive majority and now have union representation! “Now, we can defend ourselves from the mistreatment, have paid vacations and holidays. Now, there can be equality,” said Stitches worker Juana Cortez. Juana had the following message for other worker in a situation like hers:

“If something unjust is happening to you at work, there are organizations like Arise and Workers United that can help protect you.”

New Strategies: Reclaiming Labor's History The Stitches campaign shows the potential for the labor movement's revitalization with innovative new organizing strategies.

Bob Reiter, Secretary/Treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor and Arise Chicago Board member (above) stated, “What we’re doing here today is significant. Nationally, good jobs are being replaced by low-wage jobs, but the workers at Artistic Stitches are cutting against that.”

Workers United cited Arise Chicago’s involvement as crucial to the union victory. “The relationship between the workers center and our union has been perfect,” said Margarita Klein, staff director of Workers United. “And this is only the beginning.”

The Stitches workers’ win comes on the heels of a major victory for Chicago workers. After working for months with 47th ward Alderman Ameya Pawar, Arise Chicago conceptualized and helped craft Chicago’s anti-wage theft ordinance, that makes it possible for the City of Chicago to revoke business licenses of businesses found guilty of wage theft. Unanimously passed by City Council, the ordinance received widespread national coverage and was recently covered by London-based outlet, The Guardian.